Automobile-buffer



e. A. LYON.

AUTOMOBILE BUFFER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 25, 1918.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

all

GEORGE ALBERT LYON, pr PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMOBILE-BUFFER.

= Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 23, 1919.

Application filed May 25, 1918. Serial No. 236,513.

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, GEORGE ALBERT LYON,

I a citizen of the United States, andresident 4 accompanying drawing, 1 l I of Pennsylvania, have made a certain new and useful Invention Relating to Automobile-Buffers, of which the following is a specification, taken in connection with the oithesame. This invention relates especially to resilient or spring strip buffers for useon Ford or similar automobiles or other vehicles, the rearwardly extending attaching members of the buffer being oppositely inclined or bent into reinforcing diagonal position :fiso' that they are considerably stiffened against lateral vibration and movement -without losing their vertical rigidityoto an undesirable extent. These attaching mom bers may have rearward anchoringextensions' formed integral therewith so as to extend a considerable distance backward along the frame members to which they may be secured in any suitable way as by bolting an i-nturned end of such anchoring I extension to the frame where the usual drip an bolt is locatedon the Ford automobile. hese diagonal attaching members are not only stifi'er andstronger againstlateralyibration and collision impact, bntthey may,

if desired, be clamped substantiallyflat against the inclined lamp brackets so as to give'a rigid and strong attachment for the bufi'er members. These attaching'members may have forwardly and outwardly curved portions at their frontends which may be provided with resilient looped ends to be bolted or otherwise connected to the buffer front or impact receiving portion which may be formed or one or more spring strips which may be forwardly bowed in substantially uniformly curved shape, if desired, and these spring strips may overlap and reinforce each other adjacent the middle of the bufier and be bolted or otherwise connected at these portions.

In the accompanying drawing showing in a somewhat diagrammatic way illustra-' tive embodiments of the invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one form of the bufi'er attached to .a Ford automobile,

which forms part Fig' 2 i an enlarged transverse section taken through one oi the attaching mem- I 'bers of the buffer. of Philadelphia, Philadelphia county, State 1 Fig. 4 shows the buffer whendisconnect ed and arranged for shipping.

,Fig. 5 is a plan view showing another form of buffer; and

Fig. 6 is a partial plan viewshowing still another embodiment. i

The front or impact receiving member of the buffer may be;-of any suitable form or construction and it may advantageously be formed of a" plurality of more or less overlapping spring strips such; as 29, 30,.

which as indicated in Fig. 3 may be iorappearance. to the finished buffer and allow lateral adjustment. of these impact receivi ing members when it is desired to have a buffer of adjustable 'widthtofit different width vehicle frames. 7 Any-' suitable. con necting means may be used to connect these front members preferably in a'vertically rigid manner and at the same time effecting the .desired lateral adjustment of these spring strips when the buffer is to be used on different automobiles.

may have forwardly and'outwardly curved portions bolted or otherwise connected to the ends of the impact receiving members and either one of these two sets of members may be formed with a resilient end loop portion to increase the resilience of the butler. If desired these resilient end loops, such as 31, ma be formed on the ends of the impact receiving members which gives a pleasing appearance to the buffer and at For a Ford automobile, bufi'er connector bolts;such as 22,

70 wardly bowed and may have substantially uniform'curvature so as to give a, pleasing sirable for this purpose and as indicated.

they may extend through suitable holes 26 in the cooperating connector portions of these spring strip members so as to not only frictionally'hold them together, but to maintain them in substantial vertical alinement when the nuts 18 on the bolt shanks are screwed down on the lock washers 17, for example. In order to secure greater lateral rigidity in these attaching members they may with advantage havetheir rearwardly extending portions oppositely vertically inclined or bent about their axes into diagonal.

posit-ion so as to mutually reinforce and stiffen this part of the buffer against lateral vibration or yielding. while at the same time sufficient vertical rigidity retained inthese spring strips so that they are no? undesirably weakened against vertical running vibration. It is desirable to have the.

vfront endsof these attaching members substantially vertical adjacent the-impact receiving portions of the buffer and from this point the inclination may gradually increase. as is shown in Fig. 3, until the substantially straight rearwardly extending parts of these attaching members 5, 6, may be oppositely inclined at abput 45 degrees or'so as is indicated in may be extended to a greater or less degree to form anchoring extensions which may be conveniently bolted directly to the vehicle frame at a considerable distance back of the radiator or front portion of the frame in some instances. \Vith the ordinary Ford automobile the frame members are substantially straight up to about the front of the hood 1. as is indicated in Fig. 1, and the drip pan 28 is usually bolted to the bottom flange of each of these frame members by suitable bolts, such as 12, see Fig. 2. The lamp brackets 2, 3 bolted to and extending diagonally out from the frame members adjacent the front of the machine make it diflicult to attach a bumper to the frame without special fittings or connections, but this oppositely'inclined diagonal stiffening arrangement of the attaching members may be utilized by having such oppositely inclinedattaching .members lie against and if desired be bolted or clamped to these i pose.

inclined lamp brackets near the. frame members. For this purpose one or more U-bolt attaching clamps such as llmay be used adjacent each lamp bracket and if desired may extend through holes punched or otherwise formed in the attaching members 5, (3. so that the nuts 15 together with the lock washers 25, if desired, tightly hold these parts together. The anchoring extensions of the attaching members may be formed with inturned ends 9, 10 having holes through which extend the usual or special pan bolts 12 having, if desired, nuts 11 on the inside of the frame flange. In this way the anchoring extensions are firmly and strongly secured to the frame and the U- bolt attaching clamps provide a rigid and strong connection for the buffer members near the front of the automobile frame so that the impact receiving or front members of the buffer are rigidly and strongly held in protective position in front of the radiator and wheels. The use of U-bolt connectors and attaching clamps is also advantageous in this connection because it furnishes a double security against loosening, the U- bolts still remaining in position if one of the nuts become loosened or even lost. The U-bolt attaching connectors 16 are desirable for this reason and also because they stiffen and aline the two buffer members through which each of these U-bolt connector devices passes at the same time giving a pleasing and finishedappearance to the buffer front as indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. As previously indicated the buffer may be readily assembled and clamped to the automobile by practically any garage man or car owner with out special tools or instructions and the buffer is composed of such shaped and sized parts as to make a compact shipping pack- H ;;age.qF1g. 4- indicating one form 1n which In some cases these attachmg members the members may be arranged for this pur- It is also evident that the buffer elements may be quickly and conveniently bent and fabricated and given the desired spring temper which imparts to them a maxlmum of strength and resilience to take up a heavy collision impact and protect the. automobile.

Fig. 5 show another form of the buffer in which the buffer front may be formed of one or more impact receiving members of spring strip which may be forwardly bowed.

These impact receiving members 19, 20, which may be of uniformly curved for \vardly bowed shape may also overlap throughout their central portions between the frame members of the automobile and be similarly clamped together by connector bolts The outwardly projecting ends of these impact receiving members may, if desired, be directly bolted to the connector portions 7, S of the attaching members 5, 6, which may be similarly formed and connected to the automobile, if desired. For

some special purposes the buffer may have its front portion or member formed of an angular or channel iron bumper bar 33, as shown in Fig. 6, and the connector portions 7, 8, of the similar spring strip attaching members may extend within the channel bar and be bolted to the inner face of its web 3-1:. For thi purpose similar U-bolt attaching connector devices 16 may be used and their shanks may extend through holes 35 stamped or otherwise formed in the bumper bar or impact receiving member which may, have its projecting ends bent backward somewhat as indicated in the drawing.

This invention has been described in connection with a number of en'ibodiment-s, forms, proportions, parts, arrangements, maierials, methods of connection and use, to the details of which disclosure the invention is not of course to belimited, since whatis-v claimed as new and what is desired tobe secured by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

1. The automobile bufi'er adapted for use on Ford or similar automobiles and comprising a resilient buffer front composed of two flat spring strip impact. receiving members having overlap-pin g reinforcing portions and provided with-connecting apertures, connector bolts extending through said apertures to connect sai'd impact receiving members and hold them against vertical movement, said impact receiving ineinbers'being substantially uniformly curved and forwardly bowed and being formed with integral resilient end loops having end connector portions substantially parallel to the adjacent front portions of the corresponding impact member, cooperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and out- Wardly curved; portions and end connector portions shapedeto substantially conform to the corresponding end connector portions of the buffer front, connecting'apertures formed in said connector-portions and U-bolt attaclr ing connectors'extcnding through said apertures to bolt said attaching members to the. bufi'er front, said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to the rear of said curved portions and having integral anchoring extensions provided with'inturned ends adapted to. be bolted beneath the flange frame members and U-bolt attaching clamps passing through holes in said attaching members and adapted to extend around the inclined lamp brackets of the automobile to clamp said inclincd attaching members flat against the lower faces of said lamp brackets.

2. The automobile buiferadapted for use on Ford or similar automobiles and comprising a resilient. buffer front composed of flat spring strip and being formed with integral resilient end loops having end conin said attaching members and adapted to extend around the inclined lamp brackets of the automobile to clamp said inclined attaching members flat against the lower faces of said lamp brackets.

The automobile buffer adapted .for use on Ford ;or similar automobiles and comprising a resilient buffer front composed of 1 flat spring strip and being formed with integral resilient end loops having end connector portions substantially parallel to the adjacent front portions, cooperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly curved portions and end c0nnector portions shaped to substantially conform to the correspondingend connector portions of thebuffer front, and attaching connectors extending through apertures to secure said attaching members to the buffer front, said" attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to the rear of said curved portions and havingintegral anchormg extensions and attach ing clamps passing through holes in SZIKl attaching members and adapted to extend around the inclined lamp brackets of the automobile to clamp said inclined attachingportions flat against I the lower faces of said lamp brackets.

4, The automobile buffer adapted for use 011 Ford or similar automobiles and comprising a resilient buffer front composedol' fiat spring strip having end connector portions, coiiperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and end connector portions shaped to substantially conform to the adjacent nd connector portions of the buffer front, connecting apertures formed in said connector portions and U-bo1t attaching connectors extending through said apertures to bolt said attaching members to the buffer front. said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to the rear of said outwardly extending portions to clamp said inclined attaching portions flat against the lower faces of the automobile lamp brackets.

5. The automobile buffer adapted for use on Ford or similar automobiles and comprising a buffer front having end connector portions, cotiperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and end connector portions shaped to substantially conform to the adjacent end connector portions of the buffer front, connecting apertures formed in said connector portions and U-bolt attaching connectorsextending through said apertures to bolt said attaching members to the buffer front, said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined stiffening portions to the rear of said outwardly extending portions to clamp said inclined attaching portions fiat against the lower faces of the automobile lamp brackets.

6. The automobile buffer adapted for use on Ford or similar automobiles and compris- 7. The automobile buffer comprising a re.- silient front portion composed of two flat spring strip impact receiving members having connected overlapping reinforcing portions and having end connector portions, 90''- operating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly curved portions and-endconnector portions coopcrating with the connector portions of said impact receiving members, one of said sets -of members being formed with integral re-' silient end loops forming the ends of the buffer front and increasing its resilience, said attaching members having behind said curved portions vertically oppositely inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to give increased lateral stiffness and; having integral anchor extensions provided with 'inturned ends adapted to be secured to the automobile.

' 8. The automobil bufier comprising a re-..

silient front portion composed of flat spring strip impact receiving members having connected overlapping reinforcing portions and having end connector portions, codperating I spring strip attaching members having curved portions and end connector portions coiiperating with the connector portions of said impact receiving members, one of said sets of members being formed with integral resilient end loops forming the ends of the buffer front and increasing its resilience, said attaching members having oppositely mobile.

9. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient front portion composed of two fiat spring strip impact receiving members having detachably connected overlapping reinforcing portions and having end connector portions, cotiperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and end connector portions coiiperating with the connector portions 'of said impact receiving members, said impact receiving members being formed with integral resilient end loops forming the ends of the buffer front and increasing its resilience, said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to give increased lateral stiffness and adapted to be secured to inclined members of the automobile and having integral anchor extensions adapted to be secured to the automobile frame.

10. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient front portion composed of spring strip lmpact receiving members having detachably connected portlons and having end connector portions, cooperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and connector portions coiiperating with the connector portions of said impact receiving members, said impact receiving members being formed with integral resilient loops, said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to give increased lateral stiffness and adapted to be secured to inclined members of the automobile and having integral anchor extensions adapted to be secured to the automobile frame.

'11. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient front portion composed of spring strip impact receiving members having detachably connected portions having end connector portions, cooperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and connector portions cooperating with the connector portions of said impact receiving members, said impact receiving members being formed with integral resilient loops.

' 12. The automobile bufi'er comprising a resilient front portion composed-of spring strip impact receiving members having detachably connected overlapping reinforcing portions and having end connector portions, cotiper'ating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and end connector portions cooperating with the connector portions of said impact receiving members, said impact receiving members being formed with silience.

13. The automobile buffer comprising a resilient front portion composed of two flat spring strip impact receiving members hav-- ing overlapping reinforcing portions to be detachably connected and having connector portlons and cooperating spring strip attaching members having forwardly and outwardly extending portions and connector portions to be detach-ably connected with the connector portions ofsaid impact receiving members, one of said sets ofmembers being formed with integral resilient loops forming the ends of the buffer front and increasing its resilience.

' 14a The automobile bufi'er comprising a resilient front portion composed of spring strip impact receiving members havin overlapping reinforcing portions to be etachably connected and having connector portions and cooperating spring strip attaching members having connector portions to be detachably connected With the connector portions of' said impact vreceiving members, one of said said sets of members being formed with integral resilient loops.

15. The automobile buffer coinprlsing an impact receiving buffer front composed 01' fiat spring strip and having a. reinforcing central portion and integral] resilient end loops, cooperating springjstrip l attaching members having curved portions and connector portions detachably connected to the buffer front, said attaching members having behind said curved ortions oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to give lncreased lateral-stiffness and adapted to be secured to inclined members of the automobileand having integral anchor extensions provided with inturned ends adapted to mobile frame.

16. The automobile buffer comprising an be secured to the auto- 'impact receiving buffer front composed of flat spring strip and having a reinforcing central portion, cooperating spring strip attaching members having curved portions and connector portions detachably connected %;-.tions' having increased lateral stiffness.

having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stifi'ening portions to give increased lateral stiffness and adapted to be secured to inclined members of the auto mobile.

17. The automobile buffer comprising an impact. receiving buffer front composed of fiat spring strip, cooperating spring strip attaching members having curved portions and connector portions detachably connected to the buffer front, said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to give increased lateral stiffness and adapted to be secured to the. automobile.

18. The automobile buffer comprising an impact receiving buffer front, cooperating spring strip attaching members having curved portions and connector portions detachably connected to the bufier front, said attaching members having oppositely vertically inclined reinforcing diagonal stiffening portions to give increased lateral stiffness and adapted to be secured to the auto- 20. In automobile buffers spring strip at taching members adapted to be connected to the automobile to support the buffer thereon, said attaching members having outwardly extending connector portions adapted to be vertically arranged and connected to the buffer front and having oppositely vertically inclined diagonal stifiening supporting portions having increased lateral stiffness.

21. In automobile buffers spring strip attaching members adapted to be connected to the automobile to support the buffer therefrom, said attaching members having op positely vertically inclined stiffening por- GEORGE ALBERT LYON, I 

